PLAN Staff

Northern Nevada Team

Bob Fulkerson is the State Director and co-founder of PLAN. He worked as Executive Director of Citizen Alert, a statewide grassroots watchdog organization, from 1984 to 1994. He has also served as adjunct faculty at the UNR School of Social Work, teaching classes on oppression and privilege. A fifth-generation Nevadan, Bob was on the staff of Senator Paul Laxalt while attending George Washington University. Bob serves on the boards of High Country News and The Note Ables, a performing arts group for the disabled. He is a 2006-7 fellow in the Rockwood Leadership Program’s yearlong National Fellowship for Transformative Leadership in the nonprofit sector, and a recipient of the “Leadership for A Changing World” Award from the Ford Foundation. Bob received the Arcus Social Justice Leadership Fellowship at Kalamazoo College in 2011. In addition to his work, Bob’s premier loves are his life partner and family, teaching yoga, and all aspects of nature in the Great Basin and Sierra Nevada.

Jan Gilbert is also a co-founder of PLAN and has lived in Nevada since 1982. She retired from PLAN in 2012 and now serves as Northern Nevada director emerita. A teacher by training, she was responsible for the majority of PLAN’s lobbying efforts at the state Legislature, where she has forged invaluable relationships over 18 years. Jan’s areas of expertise include a range of social and economic justice issues. She was also the staff leader on PLAN’s Racial Equity Report Card.

Rosa Molina was a school teacher in El Salvador for 13 years before coming the US. She attended the National University of El Salvador and received her Masters degree in Education. Rosa served as the Director for Latinos for Political Empowerment in 1997 and began work with with PLAN in 1998. She started the Citizenship Program for PLAN in 2001, and teaches citizenship classes and educates Latino immigrants on the political process via education and Get Out the Vote (GOTV) efforts.

Stacey Shinn, Jan Gilbert Social Justice Fellow at PLAN. Stacey started with PLAN as a Master of Social Work intern, working with Jan Gilbert at the legislature and heading up our mining accountability work in Northern Nevada. Stacey graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno with her Masters of Social Work and in June of 2012 official took over Jan’s legislative duties as PLAN’s lobbyist.

Southern Nevada Team

Laura Martin is PLAN’s communications director. She coordinates and executes the communications plan for the organization and each PLAN program. She is graduate of Colorado State University with a strong background in social and racial justice issues and community organizing. Laura serves on the board of the Nevada Youth Network, Clark County Social Services Community Action Committee and is a member of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Nevada Chapter. For media inquiries: lmartin@planevada.org or 702-791-1965 (office)

Astrid Silva is PLAN’s organizing director. She started at PLAN as a volunteer and transitioned to staff after receiving her Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) work permit. Astrid has been referred to as the “face” of immigration, and Harry Reid’s conscience when it comes to immigration reform. Her personal story was highlighted by President Barack Obama and she was chosen by the White House to introduce him at a Las Vegas. She is a leader among DREAMers in Nevada and is the co-founder of DREAM Big Vegas, a Southern Nevada organization for undocumented youth. Astrid is a graduate of Advance Technologies Academy, holds two associates degrees from the College of Southern Nevada and currently attends Nevada State College.

Aurrelio “AJ” Buhay is Southern Nevada’s low wage worker organizer. AJ is an Air Force Veteran and native of Texas.

Karla Rodriguez is PLAN’s immigration organizer. She started with PLAN as a volunteer working to passing comprehensive immigration reform. Karla now helps Nevada immigrants get ready for immigration programs like DACA and DAPA and is working on her BIA accreditation so she can assist with document preparation.

PLAN Interns

Sabreena Hassim is PLAN’s MSW practicum student from USC, specializing in Community Organization, Planning, and Administration as well as Military and Veteran Services. She received her BSW from UNLV in December 2013 and will graduate from USC in May 2015. She is an LSW in the state of Nevada and has a strong background in victim advocacy with survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. She is interested in all aspects of activism, social movements, advocacy, and civic engagement.

About

The Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada was founded in 1994 to bring together diverse and potentially competing organizations into one cohesive force for social and environmental justice in Nevada. Since 1994, our organization has grown from 12 original founding member groups to a current membership of over 30 organizations.